The ruthless emperor in the late Ming Dynasty forced Chongzhen to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 184 Bank Tax Collection
"Bang, bang, bang..."

"The list is released, the list is released!"

At the gate of the yamen in Dingyuan County, as several officials pasted up the notices, they rang the gong and shouted. In a short while, people from the streets and corners gathered around, discussing and whispering.

Literate people read aloud while shaking their heads while looking at the contents of the notice, while those who were illiterate listened with pricked ears, and it was as chaotic as a vegetable market for a while.

"Bang!"

"Everyone be quiet!" Seeing that no less than a hundred people had gathered, a clerk ordered the clerk to beat the gong to stop the noise of the onlookers, and read aloud after it was quiet.

"Listen well, the current court wants to collect commercial tax and agricultural tax. Those who are on the list must go to the Royal Bank to pay the tax by themselves before the end of October. Tax refusal will be fined twice the required tax amount.

If you don’t pay the second time, if you pay less, you will be fined five times. If you don’t pay the third time and pay less, the agricultural tax will directly confiscate the land, and the commercial tax will directly seal up the shop...”

"Wow..."

After the official read out, hundreds of onlookers were in an uproar.

Because most of these people are merchants who need to pay taxes, and there are many small vendors who operate noodle stalls and eat food.

Everyone felt very novel when they heard that they had to go to the bank to hand it in themselves, and they all became nervous when they heard that if they didn't hand it in, the store would be closed down directly.

"My lord, the villain is a butcher, how much tax do I have to pay?"

"My lord, this old man is a character tester. I wonder if I need to pay taxes?"

"My lord, why do you have to go to the bank to pay? Didn't you come to collect it? What if you don't accept the account after paying at the bank?"

Bang bang bang bang!

"Everything is quiet!"

"Those who have to pay taxes have their names on it, and the amount that needs to be paid is behind the name, check it yourself.

As for why you have to go to the bank to pay, this is the intention of the court, and you can just do it, so why are there so many nonsense?

After paying the tax at that time, the bank will issue a voucher for you and others. With this voucher, there will be no non-acceptance, so you don’t need to worry.

Finally, the official is announcing that if the tax amount on the list is found to be inconsistent with the tax amount calculated by him, he will be lucky if he pays less.

If you pay more, you can write a statement yourself, just write your name and number clearly, and then put it into the iron box on the left. When you pay taxes in the next year, the imperial court will offset the extra payment this year.

Therefore, if you find that the tax amount on the list is wrong, you don’t need to worry, you must first go to the bank to pay the tax amount according to the list, otherwise it will also be regarded as underpayment or non-payment..."

The civil servants said a lot, with dry mouth, but everyone understood.

Literate people searched for their names on the list, and found that there were numbers after the names, so they immediately calculated them.

Because whether it is agricultural tax or business tax, the taxation standard has been notified in detail at the time of registration, so basically anyone who can read can calculate it.

However, the business tax is more complicated, and even some literate people can't count it. The agricultural tax is much simpler, and even the illiterate people can calculate how much money they have to pay every year.

As the news spread, more and more merchants and landlords came, and even more people came to join in the fun. For a while, the entire gate of Yamen Gate was crowded with people.

The two officials took turns to read the list on the announcement, so that those who could not read could also know how much tax they should pay.

Some small merchants and peddlers, knowing that they only need to pay one or two renminbi, immediately rushed to the bank with precious banknotes.

Some big landlords and big merchants took a wait-and-see attitude and did not rush to the bank to pay taxes. After all, there are still more than 20 days left.

Liujia Village.

It is the most remote mountainous village in Dingyuan County, more than eighty miles away from the county seat. Xu Fu and a small official rode two mules and horses. They set off in the morning and arrived at dusk.

"The two messengers are here, what business do you have?"

"Go, pour your saliva on me first!"

Xu Fu waved his hand and shouted at the old man who stepped forward to ask.

"Yes, the poor master has worked hard, the little old man will order someone to go..."

The old man hurriedly nodded and beckoned people to pour water.

Xu Fu and the little official took the water ladle, drank a few mouthfuls, and then pricked their mouths comfortably, and then Xu Fu tidied up the official uniform, and then said with authority: "Remember, I will be called the official in the future. Later, call all the people whose names I read."

After speaking, he took out a piece of paper from his bosom, and there were only a dozen or so people on it. The most tax paid was only two renminbi, and the least was only three cents of land, and only [-] renminbi of tax was paid.

Not long after, a dozen or so villagers whose names had been read were called over, and Xu Fu told them about the tax they had to pay, and explained clearly how much each person had to pay.

When more than a dozen villagers heard that they had to go to the bank in the county seat to pay by themselves, they were stunned and broke out in a sweat.

"Guy, the villain has never been to the county seat, and I don't know where the bank is, so I'd better hand it over to the Guan..."

"Yes, my lord, isn't it the same for tax collection in previous years? Why is it so troublesome this year?"

As the villagers said, they took out the copper coins and silver they had prepared long ago.

"Shut up, I have already told you that you need to go to the bank in the county seat to pay it yourself. Even if you hand it over to me now, it won't matter."

"My lord, isn't it the same for you? How can it not be counted?"

"Yes!"

"I don't bother to talk to you any more. If you don't want to pay in the county, if you don't go to the county town, you will be fined and the land will be confiscated. Don't blame me for not reminding you.

Also, since you are illiterate, remember to bring the title deed issued by the imperial court with you when you go! "

Xu Fu was annoyed by their quarrel, and it was getting late, so he just left a sentence, got on his horse with the little official, and walked away.

Obviously planning to go to the town to rest before dark.

And the villagers of Liujia Village looked at the two officials who left in a hurry, each of them was anxious like ants on a hot pot.

"Xu Tou, these villagers don't have much experience. I think we should have collected their money just now, and then tricked them into paying in the county town. Although it is not much, we can still have a few drinks."

The little official at the side saw that Bai had made a trip, and couldn't help complaining.

"You kid wants to kill me, don't you?"

Xu Fu scolded with a straight face.

What happened last time really frightened him. Those civil servants were dismissed and could return to their original places.

But he sold all the land of his house in his hometown, once he loses his official status, he doesn't know what to do with his family in the future.

Now his monthly salary of five taels is paid out on time, and one tael is not deducted, which is enough to support his family.

Therefore, he was extra careful. He didn't take any money that shouldn't be taken. It was not worth it to lose his official status for that small amount of money. He would not take even the slightest risk.

What's more, when measuring the woodland orchard a while ago, there was still enough oil and water, and even the imperial court put it very wide.

Therefore, neither the magistrate nor they are too worried. After all, forests, orchards, barren mountains and mines are not as good as fields and shops, and they are not very easy to measure and judge.

However, having learned the lesson from last time, the officials in various places did not conceal the report this time, but chose to overreport it.

For example, in an orchard, if the landlord gives filial piety money, then roughly estimate it and report it truthfully.

If you are not sensible, then report him more than ten acres, especially the mine with the heaviest tax is the most difficult to judge.

Therefore, in order not to pay more money every year, those landlords and gentry basically gritted their teeth and gave a large amount of filial money, and some landlords and gentry in barren hills even gave up directly.

The next day, before dawn, more than a dozen villagers from Liujia Village went to the county town together with the land deeds of copper coins.

All the people on the road were very nervous, for fear that they would not be able to find the county seat, and they would not be able to find the bank when they arrived in the county seat.

Fortunately, when I went to the town to go to the market, I knew roughly which direction the county was in. When I arrived at the town at noon, I walked quickly along the main road.

When they rushed to the county seat, the city gate was still closed and the sky was getting dark, so everyone had to build a fire in the field for the night.

The next day, as soon as the city gate opened, they entered the city. After a group of people passed through the city gate, they looked around and were stupid on the spot.

Everyone was shocked by the hustle and bustle of the county town, but they didn't know where to go.

Fortunately, at this time a guard in official uniform came over.

"Are you here to pay taxes?"

"Return...return to the messenger, the villain is indeed here to pay taxes."

Faced with the guard's question, the entire group was extremely nervous. The strong man who answered was a little stuttering, for fear of saying the wrong thing and being caught in the county government to beat the board or locked up.

"Follow me..." The guard waved his hand directly. Obviously, in the past few days, he was no stranger to this kind of bumpkin who came to the city for the first time.

Everyone hastened to follow obediently.

"This is the Royal Bank. You can just go in and pay the money. As for how to pay, someone inside will tell you."

The guards brought them to the gate of the bank, left without saying a word, and also did not engage in extortion.

Looking at the imposing gate, the group of people all looked at each other in blank dismay, hesitated for a while, but dared not step in.

"Big dog brother, what should we do?"

"Er Hu, go in and have a look first."

"I dare not go, Brother Big Dog, you should go first."

"You bastard..."

A dozen people pushed me and I pushed you, all shaking their heads like rattles, until the clerk at the door couldn't stand it anymore and asked, "Are you here to pay taxes?"

Everyone nodded desperately.

"Then why are you still arguing here? Why don't you go in soon?"

Under the urging of the buddy, everyone boldly stepped into the gate, came to the yard, dared not leave again, and finally was led into the hall by a steward.

"Line up and come one by one."

Looking at the female shopkeeper behind the desk, everyone hurriedly lowered their heads, and under the greeting of the bodyguards, they lined up honestly. In the cold weather, everyone's foreheads were sweating nervously.

"What's the name, how much tax do you have to pay? Agricultural tax, or commercial tax?"

"Hey, back to the nobleman, my name is Liu Dagou, and I pay the agricultural tax, one penny." The villager Liu Dagou said tremblingly, holding a hundred copper coins.

"What's the number?"

"I don't know..." Liu Dagou looked blank.

"Put away the copper coins first. Have you brought the land deed? If so, take it out and let me see it."

The female shopkeeper frowned, then put down her pen and said.

Liu Dagou hurriedly put the copper coins back into the cloth bag, and then carefully took out a land deed from his arms.

The female shopkeeper took the land deed, glanced at it, and wrote it, and at the same time, she did not forget to ask: "Remember your serial number is [-], go there first and exchange the copper coins for treasure notes, and then come back to buy money." Pay."

"Yes, yes, but I can't remember..." Liu Dagou scratched his head.

"Forget it if you don't remember, go and change the money."

The female shopkeeper waved her hand.

Compared with these ordinary people who don't have much land in total, those landlords and gentry are not so happy to pay taxes actively and truthfully.

After ten full days, most of them are still waiting and watching, and some self-righteous choose to pay less.

Especially some big landlords in Yangzhou, Suzhou, and Changzhou.

"Father, there are only three days until the deadline set by the court, shall we continue to wait and see?"

"Lets see."

Facing the eldest son's inquiry, an old man in Chinese clothes still waved his hand. Thinking of the high agricultural tax, he was so distressed that he died.

His Huang family is in Changzhou. Although he is not considered a top-notch family, he still has 2000 mu of mulberry fields and [-] mu of paddy fields. In total, he has to pay [-] taels of agricultural tax.

Compared with it, the more than 300 taels of business tax that those shops and restaurants in Fucheng County need to pay seems a bit insignificant.

"Father, the imperial court dares to let the banks collect taxes, and dares to let farmers and merchants pay by themselves. There must be a way to know who resists the tax and who pays less. It is not a long-term solution to procrastinate like this. Once it expires, you will be fined twice. what!"

The eldest son has been to Nanjing several times, so he has a wider knowledge, and knows that the imperial court has issued a notice that it must be impossible not to pay taxes.

"As a father, why don't you know? But our family has to pay more than 1 taels, which is simply unreasonable!"

"Father, our Huang's family is not bad, but the Zhou's family has to pay more than 3 taels. It's better to let the child go to the bank. Pay early and feel at ease!"

"Master, the Zhou family sent someone to pay the money at the bank."

A steward rushed in hastily at this moment.

"what?"

"Didn't you say that you won't pay anything? How could the Zhou family not keep their word?" The old man was shocked, and then cursed.

After scolding, the father and son also panicked, and immediately took the silver and rushed to the Royal Bank in the city under the guard of the servants.

But when they came to the street where the bank was located, they were immediately dumbfounded, because as far as the eye could see, they were all landlords and gentry who came to pay taxes with carriages.

The huge street is almost completely blocked.

At this time, everyone in the bank was busy, especially the female shopkeeper.

Although the bank was open from morning to midnight, as the news spread, more and more landlords and gentry came to pay their taxes. In addition, all the money they pulled was silver, which needed to be weighed and folded. The bank was simply too busy. .

Finally, on the third day, only a small half of the people paid their taxes, and the rest were still queuing.

It was past midnight, and when the bank announced that it would no longer collect tax money, the landlords and gentry who had not yet paid their taxes were suddenly in an uproar, and immediately became noisy.

"It's time for everyone, my shopkeeper won't collect any tax money anymore, it's useless for you to argue any more."

"Then what should we do? We haven't paid the agricultural tax yet, what if the court pursues it, who will bear it?"

"Hmph! You didn't come to pay taxes for such a long time before, and you waited until the last three days to pay taxes. Who is to blame? My shopkeeper has been busy from morning to night these three days, what do you want? Close the door!"

The shopkeeper was really exhausted in the past three days. Apart from resting for three hours every day, she hardly rested for a moment.

"I'll see who dares to close it."

The gentry and landowners all brought their servants with them, and they also knew that the current imperial court insisted on one thing. Seeing that the bank was really going to close, they immediately wanted their servants to stop them.

As a result, the yamen servants and garrison who had been prepared for a long time rushed forward immediately, and the two sides quarreled endlessly for a while.

In the end, even the prefect of Changzhou came over and personally interceded with the female shopkeeper, allowing the bank to operate for two more days, and wait for everyone to pay the agricultural tax and report it at the settlement.

"Prefect Qian, it's not that the shopkeeper is unaccommodating, but that the head office has clearly stipulated that on October [-]th, after midnight, all royal banks must stop collecting tax money."

"Master Li, rules are dead, but people are alive..."

Even though the prefect of Changzhou had all the good words, the bank teller still shook his head like a wave drum and insisted on closing the door. In the end, the prefect of Changzhou was so angry that he had no choice but to walk away.

And as more garrisons arrived, the gentry and landlords who had not paid their taxes had to return with their money.

(End of this chapter)